Vehicle engine mounting

ABSTRACT

An automotive vehicle including an engine having a drive connection to an axle, the drive connection being provided with a universal joint adjacent the engine, the engine being mounted on the sub-frame having a pivotal connection with the main frame on a vertical axis coincident with the universal joint, the subframe and engine being swingable from a position generally aligned with the main chassis frame to a position outward therefrom and at an angle thereto to provide ready access to both sides of the engine for servicing without disconnecting the drive connection with the axle.

United States Patent 1 Brown 145] Jan. 16,1973

[541 VEHICLE ENGINE MOUNTING [76] Inventor: Robley C. Brown, 333 ErvillaStreet,

Pomona, Califv 91767 22 Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 107,106

[52] US. Cl. ..l80/64 M [51] Int. Cl. ..B60k 5/12 [58] Field of Search..180/64 M, 64 R, l, 54, 55,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Staniewicz ..180/64 MScheuerpflug ..180/64 R Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh AssistantExaminer-Milton L. Smith A!t0meyAllan D. Mockabee [57] ABSTRACT Anautomotive vehicle including an engine having a drive connection to anaxle, the drive connection being provided with a universal jointadjacent the engine, the engine being mounted on the sub-frame having apivotal connection with the main frame on a ver tical axis coincidentwith the universal joint, the subframe and engine being swingable from aposition generally aligned with the main chassis frame to a positionoutward therefrom and at an angle thereto to provide ready access toboth sides of the engine for servicing without disconnecting the driveconnection with the axle.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] JAN I 6 I975 INVENTOR Edy C.fiidn/A/ A TTOE/V5V VEHICLE ENGINE MOUNTlNG This invention relates toautomotive vehicles, and more particularly to means for movably mountingthe vehicle engine so that it can be swung from a normal operatingposition generally aligned with the main frame of the vehicle to anoutwardly extended position at an angle to the main frame about a pivotwhich is coincident with a universal joint in the drive connectionbetween the engine and an axle to be driven.

While the engine can be utilized in connection with any type of motorvehicle where it would be advantageous to utilize it, it is particularlyadaptable for use in trucks, van type vehicle, motor homes and the like,where the front axle is a driven axle and the engine is disposedsomewhat rearwardly thereof and connected thereto by a drive connectionextending rearwardly from the differential housing on the axle to thedrive shaft ofthe engine. Also, it is particularly adaptable to rearwheel drives wherein the engine may be mounted between the front andrear axles rather than beneath a hood projecting forwardly from thepassenger compartment. Even where the engine is mounted beneath aforwardly projecting hood, the invention could be used to advantagesothat the engine could be serviced and/or repaired without interferencefrom the wheel fenders between which the hood is located. 1

The above and other objects will more fully appear from the followingdescriptionin connection with the accompanying drawing? FIG. 1 is aperspective view of an automotive vehicle, such as is adaptable for usewith the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a vehicle chassis with anembodiment of my invention incorporated therein with the engine andsub-frame in full and broken lines in alternate positions and portionsof the vehicle body in broken lines;

FlG. 3 is a side elevational view of the frame portion shown in H6. 2with portions of the body shown in broken lines.

There is illustrated a van type vehicle 4 having a frame generallyindicated at 6 whose forward end 8 is supported by a front axle 10provided with a differential housing 12 which is connected through adrive shaft 14 and universal joints 16 and 18 to a vehicle engine 20.With the front end drive such as illustrated, the front wheels 22 ofcourse are the driving wheels.

The vehicle frame or main frame 6 in the specific embodimentillustrated, is provided with a cross member 24 inwardly of the axle l0.Positioned lower than the front frame section 8 is a rearwardlyextending side frame member 26 connected to the forward section by agusset 28 or other suitable connecting means. Also located lower thanand extending rearwardly from the cross member 24 of the front framesection 8, is a second rearwardly extending frame member 30 which asillustrated at its forward end, is located in the middle of the vehicleand extends rearwardly and then curves laterally outwardly at 32 andfinally straightens out at 34 in general alignment with the side member36 of the front frame section and parallel to the first mentionedrearwardly extending frame member 26. Thus, the forward portion of theframe member 30 and its curved portion 32, together with part of thetransverse member 24 on the front frame section 8, provide a recess inthe general frame structure to accommodate the automobile engine 20. Theengine itself is mounted upon sub-frame 38 whose forward end ispivotally connected by a nutted bolt 40 to a horizontal plate 42 whichmay be welded to a block 44, the latter in turn being welded to andextending downwardly from the cross member 24 of the front frame section8.

It should be noted in FlGS. 2 and 3 that the pivotal axis of thesub-frame 38 provided by the nutted bolt 40, is in vertical alignmentwith the universal joint 18 which connects the engine to the drive shaft14. Therefore, the sub-frame 38 and the engine 20 supported thereby canbe swung outwardly as indicated by the broken lines shown in FIG. 2, sothat both sides of the engine are accessible for servicing and repairwithout in any way disconnecting the engine 20 from the drive shaft 14or the universal joint 16 which connects the drive shaft to thedifferential l2 and axle 10.

In order that the engine 20 and sub-frame 38 are properly supportedremote from the pivotal connection 40, there is provided a cross member46 which extends from the vehicle frame member 26 to the frame member 30and beyond the latter, as, shown in FIG. 2, so that a portion of thecross member 46 will lie beneath and support at least one side of thesub-frame 38.

While l have shown the sub-frame and engine swung out approximately 45from its full line position in FIG. 2, it can of course be arranged toswing out even further and still be supported by a cross member, such asthe member 46, merely by locating the cross member 46 a little furtherforwardly on the main frame 6 so that it will lie beneath the subframe38 and still not have to extend beyond the confines of the vehicle body,indicated in broken lines at 48.

In FIG. 1 the body 48 is shown with a removable panel 50 which whenremoved, permits the engine and sub-frame to swing laterally outwardlyto the remainder of the vehicle.

it will of course be understood that various changes can be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts and thelocation of the engine and driven axle, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. An automotive vehicle having a main frame, a wheel equipped drivingaxle supporting the main frame, an engine, a driveconnection between theengine and the driving axle, said drive connection including a universaljoint adjacent the engine, wherein the improvement comprises: asub-frame normally housed within the vehicle body and situatedsubstantially within the overall confines of the main frame, said enginebeing supported on the sub-frame, and a pivotal connection between thesub-frame and the main frame vertically aligned with said universaljoint permitting swinging of the sub-frame and engine outwardly relativeto the main frame with the drive connection in its connected conditionto expose the engine outwardly of the main frame to provide ready accessto the engine.

2. The structure in claim 1, and a transverse member on the main frameand extending beneath and supporting the engine and sub-frame in theoutwardly swinging position of said engine and sub-frame.

3. The structure in claim 1, and said sub-frame and engine each havingan inboard side and an outboard side and having a primary locationgenerally aligned with a peripheral portion of the main frame andswingable to a position at an angle to said peripheral portion andprojecting laterally therefrom to provide ready access to both theinboard and outboard sides of the en- 5 gine.

1. An automotive vehicle having a main frame, a wheel equipped drivingaxle supporting the main frame, an engine, a drive connection betweenthe engine and the driving axle, said drive connection including auniversal joint adjacent the engine, wherein the improvement comprises:a sub-frame normally housed within the vehicle body and situatedsubstantially within the overall confines of the main frame, said enginebeing supported on the sub-frame, and a pivotal connection between thesub-frame and the main frame vertically aligned with said universaljoint permitting swinging of the sub-frame and engine outwardly relativeto the main frame with the drive connection in its connected conditionto expose the engine outwardly of the main frame to provide ready accessto the engine.
 2. The structure in claim 1, and a transverse member onthe main frame and extending beneath and supporting the engine andsub-frame in the outwardly swinging position of said engine andsub-frame.
 3. The structure in claim 1, and said sub-frame and engineeach having an inboard side and an outboard side and having a primarylocation generally aligned with a peripheral portion of the main frameand swingable to a position at an angle to said peripheral portion andprojecting laterally therefrom to provide ready access to both theinboard and outboard sides of the engine.